Wings by Birdy Lyrics Meaning – Unfolding the Layers of Nostalgia and Longing
Lyrics
Illuminates our skin
We watch the day go by
Stories of all we did
It made me think of you
It made me think of you
Under a trillion stars
We danced on top of cars
Took pictures of the stage
So far from where we are
They made me think of you
They made me think of you
Oh, lights go down
In the moment we’re lost and found
And I just wanna be by your side
If these wings could fly
For the rest of our lives
I’m in a foreign state
My thoughts, they slip away
My words are leaving me
They caught an aeroplane
Because I thought of you
Just from the thought of you
Oh, lights go down
In the moment we’re lost and found
And I just wanna be by your side
If these wings could fly
Oh, damn these walls
In the moment we’re ten feet tall
And how you told me after it all
We’d remember tonight
For the rest of our lives
Ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah
If these wings could fly
Oh, lights go down
In the moment we’re lost and found
And I just wanna be by your side
If these wings could fly
Oh, damn these walls
In the moment we’re ten feet tall
And how you told me after it all
We’d remember tonight
For the rest of our lives
Birdy’s ‘Wings’ is not just a mellifluous tune that sweeps you into a state of melodic euphoria; it’s a tender, soul-stirring anthem of nostalgia and the human condition. Channeling a dream-like soundscape, the song weaves a poignant narrative that tugs directly at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever yearned for the past or a connection just out of reach.
The song’s haunting melody and evocative lyrics combine to create a tapestry rich with emotional depth, reflecting the highs and lows of youthful memories and the pain of distance. Here, we delve into the intricate layers of meaning behind Birdy’s compelling song, exploring the themes of time, memory, and the almost ethereal desire to transcend the mundane.
A Lyrical Journey Through Time and Memory
At the heart of ‘Wings’ lies the profound connection between the passing of time and the memories that dance within it. The track encapsulates the visceral experience of recalling vivid memories that, despite being from the past, feel as vivid and intense as if they were happening at this very moment. Birdy masterfully captures the essence of recollection—it’s as though sunlight itself ushers in the flush of reminiscence.
The ‘trillion stars’ and ‘dancing on top of cars’ imagery sparks the universality of cherishing memories tied to a specific time and place. Birdy weaves these images with remarkable visual poetry, grounding the abstract in the sensory details of such experiences, allowing listeners to insert themselves and their memories into the song.
The Gravity of ‘If These Wings Could Fly’
This memorable line is the epicenter of yearning within the song. It reflects the desire to escape, to rise above, and the craving for the freedom to re-live and increase the span of cherished moments. Birdy suggests that if we were unshackled from the boundaries of the physical world, perhaps those memories could extend indefinitely—echoing into the ‘rest of our lives’.
Yet, the phrase ‘if these wings could fly’ also resonates with the inevitable grounding of reality. It’s an acknowledgement of the impossibility to sustain moments indefinitely, adding a layer of melancholic acceptance to the otherwise uplifting sentiment. The juxtaposition creates a dynamic tension that elevates the song’s emotional impact.
The Heart’s Geography: From Intimacy to Distance
Birdy’s ‘I’m in a foreign state’ line transcends the geographical; it speaks to an emotional displacement, a heart’s distance from its home—be it a person or an irretrievable moment in time. The narrative shift from the warmth of shared moments to the coldness of separation provides a stark contrast that many can relate to on a deep level.
Words slipping away and thoughts caught on an aeroplane paint a picture of separation not just by distance but by words unspoken and feelings that can’t quite be conveyed, manifesting the struggles of communication and connection.
The Hidden Meaning: An Elegy to Impermanence
While on the surface ‘Wings’ feels like a poignant ode to nostalgia, its hidden depths reveal an elegy to the impermanent nature of life. The song grapples with the ephemerality of experiences—how quickly they rise and how they inevitably fall away, leaving only a trace of their existence in the form of memories.
The cyclical nature reflected in the repeated chorus reinforces this theme of return and continuity amidst change, suggesting that while individual moments may fade, the cycle of creating and recalling memories is everlasting.
A Siren Call for Connection Amidst Isolation
The anthemic ‘Oh, damn these walls’ captures the universal human longing for connection—an outcry against the barriers that confine our relationships and our experiences. In the moment, Birdy proclaims, we feel ‘ten feet tall’, powerful and unbounded, but against the immovable walls of reality, we grasp for a meaningful bond that could lift us above it all.
Birdy weaves into her song the innate desire to preserve the most sacred moments ‘for the rest of our lives’, a siren call to remember those instants that define us, as if by holding onto them, we could somehow defy the solitude of the human experience.
